Image provided by: Texas A&M University
About The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current | View Entire Issue (March 8, 1951)
PaR'e AMi 7:15 p BRl' Thursc MSC. DEI p. m. GUA ty c: Boom KN1 Thursi the S' USE * MV, tnc m Krtlon »I1 cl# jfflce. lent t lay It 946 Con] tires 136 ( ditlc year wo-: at i Cool p.m DUE Gat. Hw; OUE gan 4-4,' URI slio -Bull Session Time is Now to Stop Teaching Gloriousness of War By THOMAS M. FONTAINE Battalion Staff Writer 74/fILITARY MEN, public officials concerned with foreign policy, and other speakers of more or less importance have been discussing, and getting dressed down because of discussing, one idea of international relations which in its very name is a mockery of definition. Preventive war is a fallacy in both meaning and thought. A preventive police action—military action on a small scale to prevent a specific action—seems both logical and necessary at times for the preservation of peace in the world. But when we speak of preventive war against Russia— which carries the connotation of a sneak atomic attack against Communism’s strategic war areas, or a war brought on by a Russian breach of a United States ultimatum—we nre talking pure nonsense. WW II Needed Preventive Action; Preventive police action would probably have prevented World War II. If the United States, France, and Britain had been wise enough to send troops to stop Hitler’s march into the Ruhr, Italy’s aggression against Ethiopia, and Japan’s invasion of Southern China and Korea, it is more than likely that the Axis would never have threatened the whole world as it did. But Russia is already too strong and too determined to beat in a full scale, but conditional peace, war. If we attack Russia as a nation, we will not be able to stop until we have become completely militarily victorious. By staying alert and holding our ground in Europe and Asia against Red aggression, we may be able to prevent a major war with Russia. But such action can not be termed preventive war. People Must Understand Besides throwing away that unreasonable term, war-to- prevent-war, we should begin to define our foreign policy and international relations in terms that make sense to the American people. If we were to go to war with Russia, would it be in the interest of that vague term “peace?” No, our soldiers aren’t fighting to preserve peace. They are fighting to preserve the way of life, the principles, and the future of the United States of America. Why don’t we accept that fact, teach that fact, be proud of that fact? Why must we attempt to tell the world that we are so altruistic as to care hardly anything for our own personal interest as a free nation? Foreign countries and people aren’t so easily fooled as to believe that the United States has forsaken nationalism. Until the rest of the world is ready too, we won’t sacrifice national patriotism for the “One World” principle. Preventive war is just another term to be added to the vocabulary coined to further American whitewash of our history and politics. It is just another hammy attempt to glorify and/or purify war and war “heroes.” Suckrs for War Glory How long are we going to keep on being suckers for the military music, the stirring stories of personal exploits in war, and the little bits of glory personified by the ribbons and little pieces of brass? When are we going to stop teach ing our young people of the glory of dying in a “preventive” war, of fighting “to make the world safe for democracy?” There is so much more glory and honor in working and planning for things that will help people to live better. Our schools reflect our infantile worship of the bullet dodger. What heroes were we taught about in our history classes? Napoleon, Alexander the Great, others whose chief accom plishment was the planning of the deaths of others. Sure, we should know what these men did. But we should have been taught to respect the real heroes—the inventors, the thinkers, the writers, the philosophers, the scientists, who worked and fought to increase man’s consciousness, better living conditions, or increased his chances for a longer, healthier life. Schools Must Begin Campaign Our schools should begin at once a campaign to rid our youth of the old ideas of the gloriousness of war. From the first grade, our school children should be taught that war is immoral, degrading, profitless, and uncivilized. They should be impressed with the fact that no one has ever won a war. They should learn to understand and realize the * value of human lives. When we are fully conscious of what war is, we will not allow our leaders to procrastinate as they did before World War II; when we know that war is liable to mean death for our own selves, we will not fall for such stupid reasoning as led us into imperialistic battles such as the Spanish-Ameri- can or the Mexican War. Defending Is A Responsibility J; As our schools teach that war means horror, destruction, and, most of all, death, they must teach that death is prefer able to sacrifice of the ideals for which we live. So many of us, trained by a system that teaches war in patriotic and sugar-coated slogans, have asked ourselves and our elders time and again, “Why must I risk my life with its dreams and ambitions, why must I face death in war.” We should have been taught that facing death is the responsi bility we owe our country, our family, our sweetheart. , To have the right to the opportunities offered us by this country, to have the chance at a better way of living, to expect the freedom that advances man’s knowledge of him self and other people, we must be willing to accept the obli gation of fighting and dying for those things. Battalion Editorials Page 2 THURSDAY, MARCH 8, 1951 World Shaking Peninsula ‘Fifteen 9 for Legislature... W/ITH A MINIMUM of delay the Texas " Legislature has voted a fairly even re districting of the state for purposes of legis lative representation, and the people have themselves to thank for it. Even though the Constitution makes it their duty to redistrict the state after each federal census, so that each section will be as fairly represented as possible, legislatures traditionally have been loath to carry out this mandate. Past legislatures have evaded the respon sibility so that, in spite of the growth and shifts, in state population, no change in the makeup of House and Senate districts had taken place since 1921. It is entirely probable that no redistrict ing would have occurred at the current leg islative session except for a constitutional amendment the voters of Texas had the good sense to adopt in 1948. This amendment furnished a spur to reluctant legislators by providing that if the job were not done promptly by the Legislature a special redis tricting commission would do it. It is, of course, impossible to redraw the lines of representatives and senatorial dis tricts according to a formula that would please everybody concerned, and especially all present members of the Legislature whose political fortunes may be affected by the redistricting. But the primary object of re districting should not be either to favor or hurt present legislators. It should be to provide as nearly as is possible for fair and equal representation of the population of Texas in the Legislature. Within limits set by another amendment to the Constitution, that seems fairly well to have been done by the redistricting legis lation. By reason of an amendment adopted in 1936, counties are limited to seven mem bers of the lower house for the first 700,000 of their population, with one additional rep resentative for each 100,000 of population above that figure. This makes for some un avoidable disproportion of representatives for the larger counties. Tarrant County, however, fares exceedingly well. Its repre sentation will come close to the mathematical standard of one for each 51,000 population, based on the ratio between total number of representatives and the total state popula tion. The people can congratulate themselves on having brought about a long overdue re shuffling of House and Senate districts and the Legislature on promptness and efficiency in carrying out the task.—Fort Worth Star- Telegram Facing Facts rFRADITION is fine, but it should not be given value above and beyond the point of reason. “Britannia rules the waves” is such a tradition of the naval command that will be charged with protection and transportation of troops and supplies to Europe. The facts indicate that the U. S. Navy is to bear by far the greater burden in this task. Admiral Fechteler’s appointment as Supreme Commander in the North Atlantic has been held up because Winston Churchill and the British people in general can’t face this fact. Maybe we should ask Stalin for a “time out” while the British and U. S. Navy shoot it out to settle this point of honor. Then there is always the chance that the new Russian submarine fleet would be in terested in taking on the winner. The Battalion Lawrence Sullivan Ross, Founder of Aggie Traditions "Soldier, Statesman, Knightly Gentleman” \ Arming Necessary For ‘Police ’ Force (Continued from Page 1) ing speaker explained. “We arc like an actor on stage who has for gotten his lines.” We cannot leave the stage; we are forced to im provise and make policies where we had none before. “We should not be discouraged by our mistakes, but learn from them.” “To Avert War” buildup, Mrs. Dean praised Gen eral Eisenhower’s recent statement that the U.S. is arming “to avert war.” “Armed strength is neces sary now and probably will be necessary for the preservation of world peace,” she told her listen ers. “It is necessary for the same reason that a police force is need ed in a community.” As for starting our rearmament program, she expressed the opinion tbqt,„t[ie„.T,S. obligated itself to arm when it joined the United had demanded it. We can be safe in using our troops for the cause of world peace by committing them to action un der sponsorship of the United Na tions, Mrs. Dean told the group. UN is Success Commenting on the success of on, and that lies by adve afraid, she si will be drop] the United S war with Rus Don’t Expressing the value of with mill tan (luit dfpl Talking feeling ombs it on nt of about opared Dean quoted Winston Chu •chill as say- ing, “We must arm and tell Rus-1 sia we will fight, bui as long as talk is possible.” "Don’t dismiss no gotia (ions as | appeasement.” To do thal , she ex- j plained would bo to gotiating should be d say, “no ne- J “Armed might is meant to b macy, It won’t lead i between nations.” oag 'P diplo- j reement? There arc two facts to <1 ur protv lem with Russia, s ic e xplained We aze concerned bo th w ith Rus-. sia’s busy imperials tn 'ft nd he? position as fountainh ead if world ’■ Communism, but, she said neither is as tough a pi'oblen As evidence, she refe rred t seems I to Rus' sia’s history before WW II and , Britain’s successful ef ? orts in keep- j ing the Soviet “contained.” She said, too, that Russia is los-i ing her control of Communism, and cited Yugoslavia as a specif i t; 1 example. Mrs. Dean’s opinion is, that we can and should get alonfi,. the Un.ted Nations she said that countries and shou i d welcome them she felt its biggest benefit at pres- ag ;i j|j cs ’ i Blames Impatience Viewing the American attitude ] in matters of foreign policy, and the United Nations, Mrs. Dean; blamed impatience and a desire for immediate results for most oppo sition. “The world is not settled, nor will it stay settled.” We must feel that the world al ways offers a new challenge, and we must be prepared to meet the challenge without getting too ex cited, thinking that we can settle everything once and for all, or that wc can obtain perfect order, ever, she said. ent is as a forum for world pow ers to express themselves. “It is far better to have Vishinsky pop ping off at Mr. Austin, than to have atomic bombs dropping,” she said. Discussing publicity given the atom bomb, she said she thought We had deceived ourselves into be lieving it alone a sufficient weap- Teague Newsletter Reports on Cotton Hears Dr. Boyd News contributions may be made by telephone (4-5444) or at the editorial office, Room 201, Goodwin Hall. Classified ads may be placed by telephone (4-5324) or at the Student Activities Office, Room 209, Goodwin Hall. . The Associated Press is entitled exclusively to the use for republication of all news dispatches cred ited to it or not otherwise credited in the paper and local news of spontaneous origin published herein. Rights of republication of all other matter herein are also reserved. A Department of Agriculture report indicates that there will be a sufficient supply of insecticides A (rt’fii'mmXT' v for the 1951 cotton crop Congress- man Olin E. Teague reported in his weekly newsletter. In addition to the insecticides there has been favorable weather Dr. Boyd Page addressed the conditions for killing insects in hib- Agronomy Society at their meeting ernation, the letter continued. held in the Memorial Student Cen- Teague believes that every ef- ter Tuesday. * fort should be made to insure that Dr. Page spoke on “Soil Struct- all of the factors necessary for ure in Relation to Crop Produc- producing a 16 million bale cotton tion” and used colored slides to il- crop will be available. lustrate his talk. The general weather outlook is “No matter how much fertilizer favorable unless abnormal condi- is added to a soil, it can be*’ tions prevail in certain sections of made unfit for use because of poor the cotton belt, Teague stated. conditions,” Dr. Page said. West China Province Under Russian Occupation Entered as second-class matter at Post Office at College Station, Texas, under the Act of Congress of March 3, 1870. Member of The Associated Press Represented nationally by National Ad vertising Service Inc., at New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. CLAYTON L. SELPH, DAVE COSLETT Co-Editors John Whitmore, Dean Reed Managing Editors Andy Anderson, Bob Hughson Campus Editors Ralph Gorman Sports Editor Fred Walker Associate Sports Editor Joel Austin City Editor John Whitmore Today’s Issue Managing Editor Andy Anderson Campus News Editor Fred Walker Sports News Editor Joel Austin City News Editor T. M. Fontaine, Carter Phillips Editorialists Allen Pengelly Assistant City Editor Leon McClellan, Norman Blahuta, Jack Fontaine, Ed Holder. Bryan Spencer, John Tapley, Bob Venable, Bill Streich, George Charlton, Bob Selleck, Dale Walston, Bee Landrum, Frank Davis, Phil Snyder, Art Giese, Christy Orth, James Fuller, Leo Wallace, W. H. Dickens, Fig Newton, Joe price, Pat Hermabn, Ed Holder, Wesley Uasou News and Feature ptaff Dlek Kelly Club Publicity Co-ordinator By R. K. KAK CRINAGAR, KASHMIR, March 8 ^ —UP) — West China’s mineral- rich Sinkiang Province “has pass ed under Russian occupation and control for all practical purposes,” says a former Sinkiang Nationalist official now in Kashmir. Isa Yusuf-Effandi, 44-year-old former secretary general of the province and advisor to Chiang Kai-Shek, told a news conference that Russian troops are now man ning strategic Sinkiang outposts. He said Russia wants Sinkiang both as a source of mineral depos its—uranium, platinum, coal, iron, and oil—and as “a safe military base and a naturally guarded cen- Vivian Castleberry Women’s Editor ter of Russian war industry” far Jimmy Ashlock. Joe Blanchette, Ray Holbrook, from Hip rnnerp nf anv nntpn+ial Chuck Neighbors, Joe Hollis, Pat LeBlanc, 1 T 1 °. m J U 16 1 r . ange 01 any P otentlal Dowell Peterson Sports News Staff Allied bombing. Curtis Edwards Church News Editor Estimating that Russian and Roger Cosiett Pipe Smoking Contest Manager pu.-wpep rnmrrmrnst frootv? in Sink- Tom Fantaine, Johnny Lancaster, Joe Gray, oninese communist, tioops m OinK- Charles McCullough Photo Engravers iang total nearly 200,000, Isa said eid Abernathy...... Make-up Editor 30,000 troops had been stationed Autrey Frajericfc — Advertising Manager • Wdftri"-? F'=,eV,vnv an A Russell Hagens, Bob Hayms Advertising Representatives —ab....... Tibet and larger contingent assign ed to northwest districts near the Kansu province of China, “The Russians are exploiting to the fullest extent possible the uranium deposits of Sinkiang,” he added, “Batches of Russian experts and specialists have been the Soviets had turned the airfield airfield erected on the site of the rushed with the necessary equip- at Illi into one of Asia’s largest old one at Kashgar, ment to a new uranium field for handling heavy aircraft. In addition to a Soviet regiment near Gochi, east of Urumchi.” Six vast underground storehouses posted at Qomul on the northeast Isa, now a refugee in Kashmir, also have been constructed near border, Isa claimed that another said that in the last six months the Illi airfield, he said, and a new (See REGIMENT, Page 6) LI’L ABNER The Uninvited By A1 Capp